Lamp-dimmer



Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

anoeuto'o CHARLES W. EISELE, OF FLINT,MICHIGAN.

LAMP-DIMMER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Application filed July 10, 1916. Serial No. 108,515.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. EIsELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Flint, in the county of Genesee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Dimmers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements.

in .lampsrand-more particularly to means for regulating the intensity of the illumina- 131011.. The invention is particularly applica ble to head lights for automobiles, motorboats, traction cars, or other vehicles, but may be adapted to lamps for other purposes.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as the means and mode of operation of such devices whereby they will not only be cheapened in construction, but will be more efficient in use, positive in operation, economical, easily and quickly operated, and unlikely to get out of repair.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide means for varyingthe intensity of the light through a gradual scale whereby any degree of illumination within certain limits may be attained.

With the above primary and "other incidental objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

- Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of the assembled lamp embodying the invention forming the subject matter hereof. In this view the regulating device or intercepterisshown in its dimming or operated position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the regulating device or intercepter inretractedor inoperative position. In the construction shown in Fig. 2 the regulating member is adapted to be mechanically operated while in Fig. 1 it is adapted for electrical control. .Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a modification in which in lieu of moving the regulating member or intercepter the lam or illuminating member is shifted in relation thereto. Fig.

. 4, is a detail sectional view on a reduced Referring'to the drawings, 1 is the lamp housing having the usual glass face 2. The transparent face 2 is carried in the usual frame 3 which forms a removable closure for the housing 1. Within the housing is located a reflector. t of parabolic form. Positioned at the focal point of the parabolic reflector 4 is the usual incandescent bulb or illuminating member 5. The illuminating member 5 in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is statioriarily secured upon a supporting shaft or stem 6 projecting through an opening 7 in the apex of theparabolic reflector 4.

, The high degree of intensity or illumination secured by such construction'is due to the reflection of the rays of light emanating from the incandescent bulb or illuminating member 5) and reflected from the inner face of the parabolic reflector 4. The reflector 4 is so proportioned that the light will becondensed or will be projected in substantially parallel rays, the direction of the rays of light being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. Y v Without the use of the reflector tthe lamp orv illuminating member 5 affords but a limited degree of illumination. Therefore by intercepting more or less of the rays of light emanated from the lampand permitting only ,a limited number of rays to reach the reflector .4, the brilliancy or intensity of the illumination may be regulated throughout a gradual scale from low to high power.

' To intercept the rays of light and thereby regulate the intensity of the reflected light, there is provided a'reciprocatory sleeve or intercepter 8 mounted upon the shaft or stem 6 and having its forward" end bell shaped or flared as at 9 to inclose the bulb or illuminating member 5 when in its forward position. By referring to' Fig. 1 it will be seen that when the sleeve 8 is shifted forward the bell shaped extremity will inclose the'lamp and intercept the rays of light which would otherwise reach the reflector 4. No light beingpermitted to reach the reflector, the only illumination afforded will be that of direct light, in a forwardly direction as indicated. 11 its retracted position, as shown by dotted lines, the interlighting value or intensity of the reflected lightma-y be had. By adjusting the inter- I cepter or sleeve 8 to various positions inter suita mediate those shown by dotted and solid lines, Fig. 1, a greater or less area of the 1 reflector 4 may be utilized, thereby varying the degree or intensity of illumination accordingly.

Any suitable means may be employed for reciprocating the sleeve orintercepter. may be operated manually or by electrical or mechanical meansas may be found best suited to its conditions of use. In Fig. 1 there is, shown an electrical solenoid 10 to the corell of' which is attached an arm 12 secured to the sleeve or intercepter 8. There is also attached to a finger or lug 13 upon the sleeve or intercepter a retracting spring 14, the opposite end ofwhich is secured to the interior of the housing 1. The construction is such that the spring 14 nornially tends to draw the sleeve or intercepter 8 rearwardly to expose the full area of the reflector 4 to the illuminator 5. However,

"upon the energizing'of the solenoid 10 the attraction of its core will draw the sleeve or interceptor forward to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1 and against the tension of the retracting spring 14. As shown in Fig. 1, the'sleeveor regulatin member intercepts all the rays of light wh ch would otherwise be reflected from the parabolic reflector 4 and the only illumination avail able is that of direct light in a forwardly direction.

The construction shown in Fig. 2 is quite similarto that shown in Fig. 1 except that in lieu of the solenoid 10 and the retracting spring 14 operated in opposition one tothe other there is employed a gear sector 15 pivoted at 16 and engaging a series of rack teeth 17 upon the sleeve or intercepter 8. The ear sector 15 may be oscillated by 3.213;

file actuating means such as the Ii 18 to reciprocate the sleeve 8 to and from the bulb or illuminator 5. 'By this means the interceptor or sleeve may be adjusted to any intermediate position, thereby affording difi'erent degrees of illumination.

To secure the best result and the highest degree of illumination it is essential that the center of illumination shall coincide with the focal point .of the reflector. In Figs. 1 and 2 the construction is suchthat the lamp or illuminating member is' fixed in its proper focal position in relation with the reflector 4. However, in Fig. 3 there is shown a modification in which the lamp is movable to and fro into and out of the focal position. By shifting the lamp or illuminating member to and from the focal point the angle of incidence and therefore the angle of reflection of the rays of light is chan ed and the intensity of the illumination is gradually varied. In this construction the intercepter or sleeve 19 is fixed in relaticn with the t and the hos meager ing 1. The lamp -5 is carried upon a movable support 20 slidingly mounted within the sleeve'19. In its rearmost position the lamp will be positioned "within the flaring extremity of the sleeve or intercepter whereby none of its rays will reach the reflecting surface of the reflector 4. The general construction is quite similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 except that the lamp is shifted in relation with the intercepter or sleeve whereas in the preceding figures the intercepter is moved in relation with the lamp. Any suitable means may be employed for shiftin the lamp in the construction illustrated 1n Fig. 3. For instance, it may be manually operated .or may be operated by either electrical means, as shown in Fig. 3, or by mechanical means as in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 4 the reference characters correspond those employed in Fig. 2 and designate the same parts excepting that the reference characters have prlme marks and the lamp stem with the lamp is shifted.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described, possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its *form, proportion, detail construction, or aror sacri cing any of means and construction herein described comprise but one modeof putting the in vention into effect and the invention is therefore claimed broadly in any of its possible forms or modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1 1. In a lamp, :1 housing, a reflector in the housing having an opening in the apex thereof, a lamp, a substantiallycylindrical stem extending through'said opening and secured at its rear end to the housing and carrying said lamp at its front end, asleev e longitudinally slidable on said stem and having its front end flared to -inclose the lamp, said flared end of the sleeve bein movable through the reflector opening, an

means to move the sleeve longitudinally of I and .on the stem.

2. In a lamp, a housing, a reflector in housing, a lamp, a substantially cylindrical stem connected to the lamp, an' elongated sleeve surrounding the .stem and having a the flared end closely and conformably surrounding the lam the sleeve and st em having relative longitudinal movement, means to rigidly mount en's ofsaid'last named eleiS housing, a lamp, a substantially cylindrical stem connected to the lamp, an elongated sleeve surrounding the stem and having a flared end closely and conformably' sur-.

rounding the lamp, the sleeve and stem-having relative longitudinal movement, means to rigidly mount one of said last named elements, a spring connected to the sleeve and to the housing, an arm connected to the movable one of said elements and extending laterally thereof, a core carried by the arm and a solenoid extending axially of the reflector and disposed to the rear of the reflector and in front of said arm.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of June, A. D: 1916. 20

1 CHARLES W. EISELE. Witnesses:

PERRY J. GARRISON, HARRY R. FRASER. 

